An editorial in the Church of Ireland Gazette asks, "When were things ecumenical at such a low ebb?".
Written to coincide with Christian Unity week, it gives two possible answers - pre-Vatican II or in the days of Ne Temere. It says this year even the most committed ecumenist must feel that the road is long, with obstacles thrown in the way.
"Little more than a year ago there was the fuss over President McAleese receiving Holy Communion in Christ Church Cathedral. Then there was the use of the word `sham' by Archbishop Connell in connection with the Eucharist as practised by Protestants. Last September there was the publication of the restrictive One Bread, One Body by the Roman Catholic Church."
However, it says there was an upsurge of feeling at a popular level "that President McAleese had done the right thing and indeed had caught the mood of the ordinary people better than the hierarchy".
Also, there was "no doubt that Archbishop Connell regretted using the word `sham'. He tried hard to explain that the word was used in a technical sense with a precise meaning and referred to a Roman Catholic receiving Holy Communion in a Protestant church."
The episode had acted as a catalyst, the editorial says, which "resulted in an upsurge of popular feeling, emphasising tolerance and respect for the sincerely held views of others, especially in matters of faith and beliefs."
One Bread, One Body it describes as "a step backwards". It qualifies this with the observation that "the ordinary parishioner does not read such documents and so has not been influenced unduly by pronouncements from on high".
People are "increasingly willing to participate in each other's services and to come forward for Communion if occasion arises. There is a fund of goodwill and openness and an understanding that the huge political changes we have seen must not be hindered in any way by a lack of tolerance in daily life."
There are also "wonderful signs of hope" at an academic level, with not every theologian taking the narrow view. "Some have a wiser vision and are willing to state their views publicly. Notable among these are Father William Cosgrave and Father Enda McDonagh."
In last month's The Forum, the diocesan magazine for Ferns, Father Cosgrave noted the general approval for the President taking Communion in Christ Church and criticised the "quite narrow and ungenerous" interpretation of church rules in One Bread, One Body.
In the January issue of the Furrow, Father McDonagh said the document had failed to convince many and he called for Catholics to be invited and to take part in the Eucharist celebrations of other churches.
"Ecumenism will not die in Ireland as long as there are people with the courage, vision and generosity of spirit of Father Cosgrave and Father McDonagh," the editorial ended.
